Kukoamine A

1 Solanum sp.

Kukoamine A attenuates insulin resistance and fatty liver through downregulation of Srebp-1c.[Pubmed:28254666]

Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 May;89:536-543.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a pathological condition of hepatic steatosis. Insulin resistance is believed to be the key mechanism mediating initial accumulation of fat in the liver, resulting in hepatic steatosis. Kukoamine A (KuA), a spermine alkaloid, is a major bioactive component extracted from the root barks of Lycium chinense (L. chinense) Miller. In the current study, we aimed to explore the possible effect of KuA on insulin resistance and fatty liver. We showed that KuA significantly inhibited the increase of fasting blood glucose level and insulin level, and the glucose levels in response to glucose and insulin load in HFD-fed mice, which was in a dose-dependent manner. KuA dose-dependently decreased the histological injury of liver, levels of hepatic triglyceride (TG), and serum AST and ALT activities in HFD-fed mice. The increase of serum levels of TNFa, IL-1beta, IL-6 and C reactive protein in HFD-fed mice was inhibited by KuA. HFD feeding-induced increase of hepatic expression of Srebp-1c and its target genes, including fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), was significantly inhibited by KuA. Moreover, upregulation of Srebp-1c notably inhibited KuA-induced improvement of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, decrease of lipid accumulation and H2O2 level in palmitic acid-treated AML-12 cells. In conclusion, we reported that KuA inhibited Srebp-1c and downstream genes expression and resulted in inhibition of lipid accumulation, inflammation, insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Overall, our results provide a better understanding of the pharmacological activities of KuA against insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis.

Neuroprotective effects of Kukoamine A on neurotoxin-induced Parkinson's model through apoptosis inhibition and autophagy enhancement.[Pubmed:28238714]

Neuropharmacology. 2017 May 1;117:352-363.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra (SN). Our previous study demonstrated Kukoamine A to exhibit strong neuroprotective effects through anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, anti-excitoxicity. In the present study, MPP(+) and MPTP-induced PD models of cell and animal were used to investigate the effects of KuA on PD. Our results demonstrated that KuA ameliorated cell loss and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, and inhibited Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and MAPKs family that were induced by MPP(+). In addition, animal experiments showed that KuA improved the motor function and neuronal activity, and increased the positive cells of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) both in substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (Str). Moreover, KuA could decrease the expression of alpha-synuclein in brain. Finally, KuA exerted apparent autophagy enhancement both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, KuA protected against neurotoxin-induced PD due to the apoptosis inhibition and autophagy enhancement, suggesting that KuA treatment might represent a neuroprotective treatment for PD.

Neuroprotective effects of Kukoamine A against cerebral ischemia via antioxidant and inactivation of apoptosis pathway.[Pubmed:28088348]

Neurochem Int. 2017 Jul;107:191-197.

Kukoamine A (KuA) is a bioactive compound, which is known for a hypotensive effect. Recent studies have shown that KuA has anti-oxidative effect and anti-apoptosis stress in vitro. However, its neuroprotective effect in rats with cerebral ischemia is still unclear. In the study, we investigated whether KuA could attenuate cerebral ischemia induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in rats. Results revealed that KuA could significantly reduce infarct volume both pre-treatment and post-treatment, and increase corresponding Garcia neurological scores. Acute KuA postconditioning not only significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, brain water content and improved neurological deficit scores, but also decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Moreover, it markedly increased the activities of Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD, reduced levels of MDA and H2O2. Increased expressions of caspase-3, cytochrome c and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly alleviated with KuA treatment. These findings demonstrated that KuA was able to protect the brain against injury induced by pMCAO via mitochondria mediated apoptosis signaling pathway.

Kukoamine A inhibits human glioblastoma cell growth and migration through apoptosis induction and epithelial-mesenchymal transition attenuation.[Pubmed:27824118]

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 8;6:36543.

Cortex lycii radicis is the dried root bark of Lycium chinense, a traditional Chinese herb used in multiple ailments. The crude extract of Cortex lycii radicis has growth inhibition effect on GBM cells. Kukoamine A (KuA) is a spermine alkaloid derived from it. KuA possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, but its anticancer activity is unknown. In this study, the growth and migration inhibition effect of KuA on human GBM cells and the possible mechanism of its activity were investigated. After KuA treatment, proliferation and colony formation of GBM cells were decreased significantly; apoptotic cells were increased; the cell cycle was arrested G0/G1 phase; the migration and invasion were decreased, the growth of tumors initiated from GBM cells was inhibited significantly; the expressions of 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) were decreased, apoptotic proteins, Bax and caspase-3 were increased, and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased significantly; The expressions of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta), N-cadherin, vimentin, twist and snail+slug were decreased significantly, while the expression of E-cadherin was increased significantly in KuA treated GBM cells and tumor tissues. KuA inhibited human glioblastoma cell growth and migration in vitro and in vivo through apoptosis induction and epithelial-mesenchymal transition attenuation by downregulating expressions of 5-LOX and C/EBPbeta.

Kukoamine A Prevents Radiation-Induced Neuroinflammation and Preserves Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Rats by Inhibiting Activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1.[Pubmed:27815817]

Neurotox Res. 2017 Feb;31(2):259-268.

Impaired hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced brain injury. Kukoamine A (KuA) was demonstrated to have neuroprotective effects through inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis after whole-brain irradiation (WBI) in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate whether administration of KuA would prevent radiation-induced neuroinflammation and the detrimental effect on hippocampal neurogenesis. For this study, male Wistar rats received either sham irradiation or WBI (30 Gy single dose of X-rays) followed by the immediate injection of either KuA or vehicle intravenously. The dose of KuA was 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were assayed by ELISA kits. The newborn neurons were detected by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)/neuronal nuclei (NeuN) double immunofluorescence. Microglial activation was measured by Iba-1 immunofluorescence. The expression of Cox-2 and the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), activating protein 1(AP-1), and PPARdelta were evaluated by western blot. WBI led to a significant increase in the level of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and Cox-2, and it was alleviated by KuA administration. KuA attenuated microglial activation in rat hippocampus after WBI. Neurogenesis impairment induced by WBI was ameliorated by KuA. Additionally, KuA alleviated the increased translocation of NF-kappaB p65 subunit and phosphorylation of c-jun induced by WBI and elevated the expression of PPARdelta. These data indicate that KuA could ameliorate the neuroinflammatory response and protect neurogenesis after WBI, partially through regulating the activation of NF-kappaB, AP-1, and PPARdelta.

Neuroprotective Effects of Kukoamine a against Radiation-induced Rat Brain Injury through Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Apoptosis.[Pubmed:27241194]

Neurochem Res. 2016 Oct;41(10):2549-2558.

Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) is a prominent side effect of radiotherapy for cranial tumors. Kukoamine A (KuA) has the ability of anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptosis in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate whether KuA would prevent the detrimental effect of ionizing radiation on hippocampal neurons. For this study, male Wistar rats were received either sham irradiation or whole brain irradiation (30 Gy single dose of X-rays) followed by the immediate injection of either KuA or vehicle intravenously. The dose of KuA was 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg respectively. The protective effects of KuA were assessed by Nissl staining. The levels of oxidative stress marker and antioxidants activities were assayed by kits. TUNEL staining was performed to detect the level of apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins as well as the brain-derived neurophic factor (BDNF) was evaluated by western blot. Whole brain irradiation led to the neuronal abnormality and it was alleviated by KuA. KuA decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, increased glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as alleviated neuronal apoptosis by regulating the expression of cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome C, Bax and Bcl-2. Additionally, KuA increased the expression of BDNF. These data indicate that KuA has neuroprotective effects against RIBI through inhibiting neuronal oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Neuroprotection by Kukoamine A against oxidative stress may involve N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.[Pubmed:25445711]

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015 Feb;1850(2):287-98.

BACKGROUND: Accumulative evidences have indicated that oxidative-stress and over-activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are important mechanisms of brain injury. This study investigated the neuroprotection of Kukoamine A (KuA) and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: Molecular docking was used to discover KuA that might have the ability of blocking NMDARs. Furthermore, the MTT assay, the measurement of LDH, SOD and MDA, the flow cytometry for ROS, MMP and Annexin V-PI double staining, the laser confocal microscopy for intracellular Ca2+ and western-blot analysis were employed to evaluate the neuroprotection of KuA. RESULTS: KuA attenuated H2O2-induced cell apoptosis, LDH release, ROS production, MDA level, MMP loss, and intracellular Ca2+ overload (both induced by H2O2 and NMDA), as well as increased the SOD activity. In addition, it could modulate the apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, p53, procaspase-3 and procaspase-9), the SAPKs (ERK, p38), AKT, CREB, NR2A and NR2B expression. CONCLUSIONS: All the results indicated that KuA has the ability of anti-oxidative stress and this effect may partly via blocking NMDARs in SH-SY5Y cells. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: KuA might have the potential therapeutic interventions for brain injury.

Kukoamine A analogs with lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.[Pubmed:19772491]

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2009 Oct;24(5):1188-93.

Kukoamine A (KukA) is a spermine (SPM) conjugate with dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA), with interesting biological activities. The four possible regioisomers of KukA, as well as a series of KukA analogs incorporating changes in either the SPM or the DHCA structural units, were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and their inhibitory activity on soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) and lipid peroxidation. The reducing properties of the compounds were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and found to be in the range 5-97.5%. KukA significantly inhibits LOX with IC(50) 9.5 microM. All tested analogs inhibited lipid peroxidation in the range of 11-100%. The most potent compounds KukA and its analog 3, in which the DHCA units had been replaced by O,O9-dimethylcaffeic acid units, were studied for their anti-inflammatory activity in vivo on rat paw edema induced by carrageenan and found to be of comparable activity to indomethacin. The results of the biological tests are discussed in terms of structural characteristics.

Kukoamine A is a natural occurring spermine derivative, acts as a potent inhibitor of trypanothione reductase (Ki, 1.8 μM), with antihypertensive activity.

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